Why Doesn't Your Wheatgrass Grow Tall?

These days, grass isn’t just for cows.

Wheatgrass is widely recognized as a superfood whose nutritional components include antioxidants, amino acids, protein, iron, calcium, chlorophyll, potassium and magnesium, and vitamins A, B, C, E and K. According to adherents, it makes excellent juice, and is a simple, low-cost plant to grow at home. If at first your wheatgrass is a bit short, don’t fret: there could be a problem, but more likely you just don’t have enough experience yet.

Improper Lighting

In the first stages of growth, before the wheat seeds have put up a blade, light doesn’t matter that much, since without a leaf the plants can’t photosynthesize anyway. However, once the grass blades appear, the plant appreciates proper lighting, either indirect or direct sunlight. Without it, they will not grow as well, and therefore not as tall. Be aware that well-lit locations are hotter, however, and therefore the wheatgrass will require more water. Without it, the grass may also suffer.

Temperature Trouble

Wheatgrass grows best at a warm room temperature, usually around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It often doesn’t do well outdoors or even in a cooler greenhouse, but rather prefers the same environment humans do. Lower temperatures mean slower-growing grass, which may extend the time the grass takes to grow tall. Also note that temperatures above 90 F can discourage grass growth. Improper temperatures also encourage mold; to reduce the chances your grass will develop mold, keep temperatures between 60 and 80 F.

Previous Harvest

One of the main inhibitors to your wheatgrass gaining height is a previous harvest. While you can cut the same crop of wheatgrass two or even three times and still receive similar levels of nutrition from the product, the grass may not possess the resources to grow as tall after it has been cut as it did the first time. In fact, if you cut it three times, it will top out at an even shorter height the third time than it did the second. Since this is normal, don’t worry about it.

Grower Inexperience

Experience is worth a lot, and until you become proficient at every step of growing wheatgrass and tweak it for your particular growing environment, you may not achieve the 7 to 12 inches that professional wheatgrass growers say is possible. Until then, experiment with seed soaking times, room temperature, length of time in darkness and in light, and total time until you cut the grass. Eventually you will learn what works best for you and makes your grass the healthiest, and it will respond with height.